My Story

Marie Roumain Fouché – was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and emigrated permanently to the United States in 1968. She has been married since 1969 and is the mother of three children. In 1972, she moved to Queens, New York.

Marie earned an Associate Degree in Management from New York University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Empire State College, a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from Queens College, and a Master’s degree in Creole Bilingual Education from City College. She also pursued graduate studies in Theology at St. John’s University.

She worked in administration at European American Bank on Wall Street and later at the National Pastoral Life Center of the Archdiocese of New York under the leadership of Rev. Philip Murnion.

Marie Fouché served as a bilingual elementary school teacher with the New York City Department of Education at P.S. 34Q for approximately 17 years, teaching early childhood (Grades 1 and 2). She was later excessed to I.S. 192, where she worked with bilingual sixth-grade students, and subsequently served as a substitute teacher for all grades and subjects. After retirement, she worked part-time at P.S. 135Q as an Academic Intervention Services (AIS) teacher.

She contributed to several instructional manuals for Bilingual Pupil Services (BPS) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). She authored My First Journey: A Haitian Immigration Story, based on the true story of one of her students. She also typed and contributed to the teacher’s manual Haitians: A People on the Move. Under the pen name Marika Roumain, she translated and adapted several children’s books published through a special grant for the bilingual program at P.S. 34.

Marie Fouché is recognized for her strong organizational and administrative abilities, as well as her enthusiastic support of community activities. She began her volunteer work in Haiti, teaching in a special program for young domestic workers (“restavèk”) at Saint Gerard Rallye.

In 1975, she co-founded Haitian Americans United for Progress, Inc. (HAUP), dedicating significant time to organizing and planning its activities. She served as Executive Secretary and Chairperson, coordinated the fundraising and recruitment committee for 20 years, and spearheaded the organization’s information center. She actively promoted Haitian culture by enlisting artists and cultural groups. To promote the Creole language, she published Jean Claude Martineau (Koralen)’s first book and recording, Flè Dizè. She also wrote and produced plays performed as fundraisers for HAUP. For several years, she co-hosted a radio program on women’s issues titled Fanm Dayiti on Radio Tropical with Marie-Thérèse Guilloteau.

Marie was an active member of Sacred Heart Church in Cambria Heights for approximately twenty years, serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. She completed training as a Director of Religious Education in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. Under the leadership of Monsignor Guy Sansaricq, she coordinated and conducted baptismal preparation and Bible classes. She volunteered administratively at the National Haitian Apostolate Center and chaired an advisory committee for Auxiliary Bishop Guy of Brooklyn.

She published a baptismal booklet for the Apostolate and prepared the Kolèj Pastoral manual. She coordinated the translation of the Diocesan Pastoral Institute’s ten-week “Foundations for Ministry” program and served as an instructor. She participated in the Diocesan Pastoral Council and was a member of the Strategic Committee for the diocesan task force on parish reorganization, as well as the Pastoral Institute Council. She also served on the School of Evangelization Advisory Committee.

In January 2012, she became a member of the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University. From its inception in 2013 until its conclusion, she served on the Women’s Conference Committee.

Marie initiated and managed an outreach Gospel choir for children and young adults at Incarnation Parish, under the direction of Yolette Rousseau, for more than ten years. From 2015 to 2020, she volunteered as Director of Religious Education (DRE) at Incarnation Parish in Queens Village, NY.

In collaboration with CORA, she planned, organized, implemented, and sponsored a community development project for the town of Anse-à-Veau, managing it during the summers of 2014 and 2015. She organized a summer camp for 50 disadvantaged children in the rural area of Brossard and sponsored another camp in Morisseau, Nippes. She continues to serve as an administrative volunteer for the group.

In collaboration with the Salesian Sisters, Marie supports the development of their mission in Gommiers, as well as their parish, Notre Dame de la Délivrance, in the fourth communal section of Roseaux near Jérémie in the Grande Anse Department.

After relocating to Albany in 2022, she attends All Saints Parish, where she volunteers at the Sister Maureen Joyce (SMJ) Soup Kitchen and initiated the reopening of its vegetable garden.

Throughout the years, Marie has received numerous awards. Among them:

On November 1, 2015, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Pontifical Honor at St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
On September 22, 2016, she received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal at St. John’s University
On January 14, 2020, she was recognized by the Queens Borough President’s Office as an engaged community leader in Queens.

This is the diary of my travels to Haiti.
mcrfouche@gmail.com

Entries and photos by: Marie Fouché
Constructed & Edited By: Natalie Fouché

My editor and daughter, NATALIE, has passed away on November 11, 2020.
2013 Nat video of her life
For travels at other locations blog: https://gonetraveling15.wordpress.com/